POLICE say a fire that burnt out about 10 hectares of land near Sovereign Hill
overnight is suspicious.

Fire crews were called to the Golden Point blaze
about 12.30am this morning, with reports of a grass and scrub fire at Elsworth
Street.

Additional crews were called in for backup, with a 30-strong team of
firefighters battling the fire.

A total of 12 units fought the blaze, which
was brought under control within an hour.

It is not yet determined what
started the fire, although detectives are treating it as suspicious.

Fire
investigators will examine the scene later today.

Ballarat Fire Brigade
captain Mark Cartledge said there was initial difficulty in fighting the fire,
with dangerous and unknown terrain making it impossible for fire crews to get
close to the flames.It had already burnt about half a hectare by the time
the first crews arrived.